I really thought I was going to dislike this book since it is all about tennis. I don't like sports of any kind. At all. So, I was surprised that I found myself really enjoying this book and actually rooting for Carrie. I think TJR does a great job creating her characters. She gives them flaws, she makes us love them, but also hate them at times too.

Carrie Soto is a tennis phenom, coached by her tennis professional father Javier since she was a kid. In 1994 when a new player on the courts, Nikki Chan, ties her record for the most Grand Slam wins, Carrie decides to come out of retirement and get back into the game. The story starts back in the 1950's when her parents first got together and then Carrie was born. We quickly go through her life as she becomes a professional tennis player eventually nicknamed The Battle Axe (aka The Bitch).

This book was less about tennis and more about the relationships - family, friendships, and love, as well as Carrie discovering herself through different people in her life. I like that TJR likes to link her books together in a subtle way - if you read Malibu Rising, Nina's husband Brandon (a pro tennis player) has an affair with Carrie Soto leading to the destruction of Nina's marriage.

Carrie Soto is a champion tennis player and goes back after a knee injury in her mid-thirties to protect her Grand Slam record from the younger generation. 
Taylor Jenkins Reid takes you deep into the heart of Carrie's mental and physical well being, as well as each match as she fights to keep her record alive.  You feel as though you're immersed in her story and invested in how it all plays out from her relationships to her matches.  She is a very strong woman in a male dominated sport and Carrie's no-nonsense attitude made me like her character even more. 
The way this book is written, each match I felt as though I was watching it in real time. The description, the high octane pressure they go through during and when it comes down to that last match I guarantee you will be on the edge of your seat as the ball volleys back and forth. 
If you read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid I highly recommend Carrie Soto is back.

I know I am the outlier in my feelings about this book. And I'm okay with that. Basically this story had none of the grit and nuance that we all love from TJR. I love her books for the deep character dives and how things all messily mesh together. Sure there were some relationships but I felt it was all pretty surface level stuff and completely totally overshadowed by tennis. There was nothing in this entire book that was not drenched in tennis. And while I am not a huge tennis fan, I do appreciate sports and athletes and it was interesting to follow along but it wasn't enough to carry and entire novel. Had this been a nonfiction book about an actual athlete then I would have given it another star because it would have been focused on the athlete and their performance, not them as an individual human. Does that make sense? Needless to say, I'll be right in line to grab and devour the next TJR book.

“I suspected the problem was that I was always the winner. But I could not for the life of me understand why that made people want to play with me less instead of more.”

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan. At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever. In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season.

What Worked: A tennis book for non-tennis fans! I worried this book wasn’t for me. However, it totally worked, and I was wrapped up in the story. TJR could have made Carrie a rhythmic gymnast, and it wouldn’t have mattered. The drive of these characters to be the best is really what keeps the story moving. I saw much of my own struggle with Carrie’s desire to be so perfect that it causes one to lose the original joy that got you started in the first place. The writing style is fast-paced, and the conflicts are engaging. The character relationships are complex. Even if you don’t like tennis, you’re sure to get sucked in no matter what.

What Didn’t: There were times when I felt that TJR’s attempt to write Latinx characters didn’t come off as fully authentic. I can’t exactly put my finger on it, but there are other more detailed reviews that can explain better than I.

Rating: Really Liked It

Thanks for the gifted e-arc Ballentine & @netgalley! Swipe for synopsis.

Happy pub day to this gem that deserves all 👏 the 👏 damn 👏 stars. Right when I think I have a favorite TJR, she goes and makes me question everything. Not sure where this one falls, especially since I read most of her older works 5-6 years ago, but it’s up there y’all. Evelyn will always have a special place in my heart, but I can safely say Carrie will now too.

Carrie is so unlikeable that she’s likeable and I really, really adored her character. TJR wrote her so well & her character development was *chef’s kiss.* I liked that we saw so many sides of her - an athlete & competitor, a daughter (my fav!), an opponent, and a lover. You can’t help but cheer for her.

The book was the perfect mix of plot & character driven and didn’t feel nearly as long as it was. I flew through it! Oh, and be prepared to feel all the emotions.

I grew up playing a ton of sports and worked in college athletics until a few months ago, so I loved the tennis aspect, but I will say the book is pretty tennis heavy and if you don’t like sports (and tennis specifically), you might be a little confused or bored at times. While I think you could still enjoy the book without understanding tennis lingo, that knowledge would definitely help and make for a more well-rounded, enjoyable experience.

I read this one months ago & it’s one of the few books I haven’t had to go back and refresh my thoughts on before writing a review. I could go on and on but I’ll just leave it as TLDR; highly highly recommend. 👏

Despite being familiar with Carrie Soto after reading Malibu Rising, I just could not get into this one. There is a lot of tennis lingo and description of the matches/training. Someone who is extremely passionate about tennis will most likely love it, but others may be bored.

Brief Synopsis:
Carrie is a determined tennis player who works so hard to win no matter what. She used to hold the title of the most slams until she hurts her knee and is forced to retire from the sport… but at 37 she decides to come back to take back her title of the most slams!

My thoughts:
-TJR is such an amazing writer! No matter the topic she pulls you in and you feel so close to the characters and feel so attached to the story.
-Carrie’s dad, Javier a tennis player as well, coaches her starting when she is little. Their relationship is so strong and real and I absolutely loved reading both their growth throughout the story
-Carrie is such a strong female character. You feel with her as she goes through the challenges and emotions on her journey as she comes back and fights for her title
-There is a lot of tennis! I played in high school so I liked reading about all the tennis. Even if you don’t know much about tennis you won’t mind all the jargon it is written so well
-Overall if you love character growth, sports and historical fiction this one is definitely for you. This has become one of my favorite TJR books!!

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK - @tjenkinsreid

5⭐

The bitch is back!!

Carrie Soto is vying for one last comeback , coming back from her retirement. It's not going to be easy for the 37year old but she has something to prove! Can she play an epic final season?

MY THOUGHTS -

I loved this book so much!! I literally couldn't read anything else for next 2 days.

Full disclosure am a huge tennis fan watch it on TV and wish to watch a grand slam match live one day.

In terms of writing sports fiction books there aren't many so it was so much fun reading this one .

Agree that this one is a bit heavy on tennis aspect but apart from that also there are so many emotions, relationships eps between Carrie and her father Javier who is also her coach which TJR writes and blends effortlessly.

A character driven story , unlikeable character whom you end up cheering for!!

If you love Evelyn Hugo do check this one out, non tennis loving fans don't worry it's still enjoyable.

Thank you @netgalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid writes stories of strong women. Mostly set a few decades ago in southern California. I love Daisy. I love Evelyn. I like Nina. It took a while for me to warm to Carrie. She and I have different philosophies on sports and sportswomanship. She isn’t likable and she is too stubborn to realize that it is a weakness, not a strength, to push everyone away. Raised by her widowed father, himself a tennis player, she grows up on the court. From the time she can walk she is convinced that she must be the greatest of all time.

And she is. She holds records. She dominates. Then, she retires. When a new player snaps at the heals of her record, she jumps back into tennis. This is her story of trying to make a comeback. Carrie cannot see that she cannot stop time from passing. Games get elevated and every new generation builds on that of before. Bow out gracefully? No way!

What she does have is an amazing support system. Her father has obsessive notes to help coach his daughter to victory. Her manager cares about more than just her cut. Other players, a few anyway, can see past her exterior and stand by her. It takes a good portion of the book for Carrie to show any real growth. Her story becomes a touching ode to the female athlete trying to break the expectation of sweet and obedient without being outright rude to everyone. I personally don’t like it in any gender.

I found Carries journey to be intriguing but I was a little Bored by the minutia of tennis matches. I don’t even like watching tennis. I don’t want to read a stroke by stroke retelling. So, I skimmed some of it. Overall, Carrie is another strong character by an author that constantly writes of women who have to break out of the mold others try to force them into.

happy #pubday to this book!! 🎉

Carrie is renowned as the best tennis player in the world, and lives for the title. while in retirement, however, she sees her status flash before her eyes as player Nicki Chan ties her record for most Grand Slam titles.

unwilling to give up what she tirelessly worked for, Carrie decides to do the unthinkable at the age of 37—come out of retirement to defend her title and honor. known as “the Battle Axe” for her brusque character and less than friendly demeanor, Carrie’s announcement comes with mixed reactions from the public. with the help of her father/tennis coach Javier, Carrie sets off to break more records in hopes of securing the one she cherishes most.

for knowing absolutely nothing about tennis, I enjoyed this book so much! @tjenkinsreid did a great job emulating the competitive nature of sporting events that you’d see live or on tv. I found myself just as excited and anxious as I would be cheering on some of my favorite sports teams in real life.

on paper, Carrie should be unlikeable, but you can’t help but admire her fervor for the sport and how unapologetically herself she remains at all times. the other main characters are super lovable, too. this was definitely a feel good book (yet it still managed to make me cry lol), and I enjoyed learning a little more about the sport along the way.

this is a great book for anyone who loves tennis (obv), has a competitive nature, or enjoys a good comeback story. many thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for my advanced reader’s copy!

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again. Carrie Soto is the latest of Reid’s strong female protagonist set to make her comeback as a tennis legend. Reid weaves the story of Carrie in such a way that you want to keep reading non-stop to the end. A great book on strong women and the ultimate cost of wining.

This book was absolutely stunning. It is similar to Evelyn Hugo in how you aren’t sure if you love or hate the protagonist, but you become so emotionally invested in them that you just can’t tear yourself away from them.

Carrie Soto was the best of the best in tennis until she wasn’t. Her attitude and treatment of other players, coaches, and even fans Years later she makes her big comeback, and she must totally reinvent herself. Her character growth was a great to read and the regrowing the bond with her father was so touching.

I ended up absolutely loving this book, and I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.

i'm extremely torn with this book. i really, really love Carrie as a character. she is an unlikeable bitch to the media but i really freaking like her. i loved the father/daughter relationship and the slow burn romance. i'm a sucker for books about famous people and this was no different. the only major gripe that i have with this book, and ultimately why it is a 3 star read for me, is that this book is basically an extremely long tennis match. as someone who isn't super familiar with tennis (i totally bombed my tennis tryouts freshman year of high school bc of this hahaha) -- a lot of the game play went over my head. it was literally back to back tennis matches in extreme detail.

i know a lot of ya'll love this one, and i can see why, but this is ultimately not my fave TJR.

thank you libro.fm for gifting me the audiobook to review.

A tennis player past her prime attempts a comeback in Carrie Soto Is Back
If it weren’t because I would never pass on a Taylor Jenkins Reid book, I would’ve never considered reading a book where competitive sports were part of the story. Now I’m almost a tennis fan after reading Carrie Soto Is Back. (I would’ve become one 100% if the players in the book weren’t fictional.)

“One of the great injustices of this rigged world we live in is that women are considered to be depleting with age and men are somehow deepening.”

Carrie Soto is driven, arrogant, and unapologetic. She has worked her whole life toward one goal: being recognized as the greatest female tennis player in the world. She accomplished this recognition by winning twenty Grand Slam singles titles. However, after a knee injury and surgery, Carrie struggled to perform at the same level and she decided to retire.

Five years later, when a younger player beats her record, she has no choice but to come out of retirement to reclaim what she believes is hers. Carrie, now in her late thirties, recruits her dad—a recognized tennis player and her original coach—to help her get back in the game. But Carrie will have to face the uphill battles of physically getting ready to compete and emotionally confronting the faults in her game.

Tennis matches are the new love stories thanks to Taylor Jenkins Reid
The descriptions of tennis matches were mesmerizing. I felt like I was there, enjoying the match live. But also saw how served to strategically move the story and our characters forward. We follow Carrie through all four major tennis championships—Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open—as she tries to regain her historic record and, arguably, only life accomplishment. But even while conquering the court, Carrie learns she can’t continue to hinge her value on a number of tennis victories.

Love, game, set, and match were just words I vaguely remember from tennis camp when I was 15. Now, they remind me of Carrie Soto. They remind me of her relentless pursuit of greatness and her journey through self-discovery. They inevitably also bring my thoughts to Evelyn, Daisy, and Nina. The ladies of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto Is Back are all tragically captivating and beautifully imperfect. They feel so real that you can’t help but love them. This is one of my favorite series (even though they can be stand-alone books). I hope Taylor continues to tell stories of strong-willed, resilient, fighting women representing the decades.

Carrie Soto is Back! And so is TJR.

This was an absolute ace. 🎾 I can only say that because I suddenly feel as though I’ve had a tennis education. I swear TJR could write about paint drying and make it meaningful. I’ve never been a tennis person but I am a highly competitive female former athlete (Although now I just jog😂) and this warmed my heart!

I wasn’t a huge fan of Malibu Rising so I went in skeptical that she could touch my heart the same way as her other books but this checked every box. Easy page turner with heartfelt story and characters that jump off the page. Have your Spanish to English dictionary with you because there’s lots to translate but it added so much character.

Happy pub day to The Battle Axe herself!

Thank you to @netgalley @randomhouse and @librofm for the ARC and ALC of this gem!

I really loved this book.

Ok, I know everyone says that Carrie is unlikeable, but I didn’t really feel that way. Yes, she’s rough around the edges, but I liked that about her.

I got verrrry similar vibes with her and Nesta from A Court of Silver Flames. Yeah, she’s arrogant and prideful, but she’s also hurting and insecure.

There is a LOT of tennis in this book. I have never even watched tennis, so I was a little lost in those parts. That being said, it was fine and didn’t take away from the heart of the story.

I’ve seen some people comment about how there are many Spanish phrases with no translation. This is true. I know enough Spanish that it added value. I LOVED it, but I can see how it would be a little confusing if you don’t know Spanish. Again, I don’t really think it’ll mess the book up for you if you don’t know Spanish.

I’ve also seen some comments how TJR should not be writing from the perspective of a Latin person since she is not Latin. I disagree with this view. I think she honored the characters and portrayed them well. I say that as a Latin person myself.

🎾 I LOVE Javier. I. LOVE. JAVIER. His humor. His love. He was dad GOALS. One of my fave book characters ever.

Lastly, this book has so many little nuggets of wisdom. I highlighted a lot. I wouldn’t mind eventually owning a paper copy of this. I was inspired to pursue my dreams no matter what age. I teared up. I cheered.

Ok I’m done. I thought this book was so good.

Just know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s not for everyone. It just happened to be for me.


Thank you netgalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group-Bellantine for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will admit, this is my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book. I will also admit, that I know absolutely nothing about tennis. Also, I am not a fan of historical fiction, but this book caught my attention and I am glad that it did. TJRs writing is impeccable. The details she uses made me feel like I was sitting there watching the tennis match. See I learned a tennis term from reading this! The family dynamic is uplifting and enjoyable. This will not be my last TJR book

I received a digital advance copy of Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid via NetGalley. Carrie Soto is Back was released on August 30, 2022.

On its surface, Carrie Soto is Back is a very simple, straight-forward story. Carrie Soto is thirty-seven, a retired tennis champion who holds the record for the most Grand Slam wins. The story opens with her sitting in the stands, watching a younger player tie her record. Carrie decides in that moment to come out of retirement and earn her record back, with her father at her side as her coach.

While the story is straight-forward, with no big surprises in the plot, Jenkins Reid does what she tends to do best. She gives us a story filled with real people, all of whom have clear goals and go on their messy journeys as they work toward what they want, finding the things they didn’t know they needed along the way. Carrie is the primary voice in the story, so we get to know her very well, but Jenkins Reid also gives us fully developed characters around her, including her father, her agent, and both male and female tennis players. The characters are well enough developed that I began to question whether they were fictional or historical. (There were actual tennis stars in the periphery of the story, but none as true characters in the tale).

Jenkins Reid also does a great job of dropping us into the different locations of the story. We spend time at Carrie’s home, at Wimbledon, at the US Open, and the other Grand Slams. While I have never been to a tennis game, and don’t enjoy watching it on TV, I found the portrayal of these events engaging enough that I am now tempted to try watching again.

Overall, Carrie Soto is Back is a tightly written story of a woman with a huge goal told in a way that makes the journey deeply personal. Readers who enjoy Jenkins Reid’s ability to dive deep into the characters she brings her readers are likely to love this book.

Happy Publication Day!

I have read many of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books and have enjoyed them all very much. When I saw that she had written a new one I couldn’t wait to read it. Carrie Soto Is Back resides among one of my favorite books TJR has written. I always enjoy how TJR incudes a strong female character in each of her books. Carrie Soto was one of the strongest, most determined characters yet. There were flaws in her personality, interactions and confidence but through it all she persevered. Carrie’s strength was seen through all the drama, controversy and obstacles she was made to endure. Carrie Soto Is Back was a powerful yet inspirational novel. Although it was about the game of tennis, it was so much more. The characters were dynamic and I loved that TJR managed to add an element of romance into the plot of the story. I could not pull myself away once I began reading. Carrie Soto Is Back. It was all that I was hoping it would be and so much more. I really loved everything about this book!

Carrie Soto grew up as an only child. Her father, Javier Soto, was an accomplished, respected and former tennis champion. He was forced to end his career, probably a lot earlier than he planned, due to an injury. Carrie lost her mother when she was quite young. Her mother’s death played a pivotal role in shaping Carrie’s character. From an early age, it was apparent that Carrie had an innate ability for tennis, much like her father had. She was driven and her father was relentless in the drills he made her endure and all the lessons he provided. Her father encouraged her love for the sport and her determination to become the best tennis player ever. She would not accept less. Carrie accomplished all that. In the height of her career, she was ranked number 1 in the world and had won more grand slams than any other female player. Then it was time to retire from tennis.

Now, at the age of 37, Carrie’s record has been tied by a younger female tennis player, Nicki Chan! Carrie had been retired from tennis for six years when this occurred. She sat watching Nicki Chan win the 1994 US Open. With this new information, how could Carrie let Nicki Chan take her record away from her? Carrie made up her mind. She was going to reclaim her title. She could not allow Nicki Chan to win. Carrie would begin to train again. With her father’s help, Carrie would enter and win one more grand slam so she could maintain her record.

Carrie Soto Is Back was about father/daughter relationships, determination, ego, ambition, friendship. resilience, and endurance. Taylor Jenkins Reid developed Carrie’s character to be focused on the prize, brash at times, standoffish and not liked by most. Even though Carrie exhibited an act of confidence outwardly, she was less confident than she appeared. She never had time for friendships growing up since tennis monopolized all her time and she wasn’t interested in anything else but tennis. The absence of friendships and emotions impacted the way Carrie thought others felt about her. I loved watching Carrie evolve when Bowe Huntley came into her life. The relationship Carrie had with her father was raw, emotional and beautiful. I found myself cheering from the sidelines for Carrie. I was her biggest fan! Carrie Soto Is back was heartfelt and inspiring! I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC of Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a good book. It’s quite impressive that Taylor Jenkins Reid can write an entire novel about tennis and athleticism and interest so many readers that may not be into those topics. She amazes me with how she creates such complex characters, I truly love Carrie Soto. For being so unloveable, hard, determined, and badass. She kills it. I didn’t find myself completely obsessed with this book, but it was truly a great read!